Joseph Edward Turpin

 

Joseph Edward Turpin, 91, of Amarillo, TX passed away on December 17, 2021, with family at his side. His care after death is provided by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.

Memorial services will be at 10:00 A.M., Friday, January 7, 2022, at First Christian Church, 3001 Wolflin Ave., with Rev. Brett W. Coe officiating.

Joe was a man of the Panhandle, born in Amarillo, TX on January 7, 1930, to Lucy and William Turpin. He was the youngest of three sons and lived out his life on the farm where he was born. He was eight years younger than his oldest brother, Robert, and never knew his middle brother, Owen, who did not survive infancy. As a youth, he rode a horse or a bicycle to school until driving age and then he drove several of the area children to school, as he was one of the only ones with access to a vehicle. He graduated from Amarillo High School in 1948, where he met the love of his life, Naomi Marie Rowell. Their first date was to the ROTC spring picnic in Palo Duro Canyon. He attended Texas Tech University for one year before returning home to work the farm.

Joe married Naomi on April 19, 1951, at Pleasant Valley Christian Church, Amarillo which they attended until 1957, except for two years spent in California when Joe was drafted. They then transferred to First Christian Church, Amarillo where they were lifelong members. They worked and lived side by side for 65 1⁄2 years. In 1964, working together, they built the home in which they lived the remainder of their respective lives. They were especially proud of their children and grandchildren all being college graduates with several having advanced degrees.

Joe was drafted in March 1952 by the Marines to serve in the Korean Conflict. After boot camp, Joe and Naomi moved to Vista, California. Joe was then stationed in Japan where he served as an office clerk as he said “because I could type pretty well.” He was allowed to return to California a few weeks early as Steve, his firstborn, arrived 6 weeks ahead of the due date. Joe was released from active duty in March 1954. He returned to Amarillo with his young family to continue farming the family farm as well as many acres of leased land, all the while with Naomi by his side as an active farm partner. He attended night classes at Amarillo College and earned an Associates’s Degree in Business.

Joe was an avid and faithful community member in many capacities. Family, Church, Farming, and Ranching, were his passions and he served them all faithfully and diligently. Joe, along with Naomi, raised their family of one son, Steve, and two daughters, Nedra and Mary Jo, with a firm hand and copious amounts of love and tenderness. He was an active participant in many aspects of the children’s lives. Church activities were a high priority for Joe. He actively supported his children’s 4-H and extracurricular school activities. Joe helped feed, clean, and prepare many lambs, steers, and heifers for show and eventual sale to contribute to the children’s college funds. Joe professed his faith by example with regular attendance and volunteer activities with the church.

As a member of First Christian Church, he was an Elder, Sunday school teacher, youth group sponsor, member, and eventual Chairman of the Board and a Homebound Communion Minister. In June 2013 he and Naomi were recognized for 20 years of faithful and distinctive service in the Homebound Communion Ministry at First Christian Church.

Joe and Naomi were longtime Texas Farm Bureau members in Randall county and Joe served on the Randall County Farm Bureau Board of Directors for over 60 years. He and Naomi traveled to numerous conventions serving as voting delegates representing Randall County Farm Bureau. In 2006 Joe was presented the Texas Farm Bureau Pioneer Award in honor of pioneering leadership and exceptional service to Texas Farm Bureau and Agriculture. He proudly accepted the award with children and grandchildren present.

Joe was also concerned with the environmental impact of farming and the conservation of water.  He served on the board of the Palo Duro Soil & Water Conservation District. In 2011, his continued dedication to Soil & Water Conservation as a director of the Palo Duro Soil & Water Conservation District #147, was recognized with a 25-year service award. He was eventually named a Director Emeritus.

In the mid-1960s, Joe and Max Carpenter, long-time friend and cattle partner, formed Golden Spread Simmentals and began breeding Simmental cattle. They were very proud to be member number 162 in the American Simmental Association. Joe served on the High Plains and Texas Simmental Association boards over his ranching career. He and the family traveled to several national Simmental conventions and transported cattle to Simmental shows and sales.

Eventually, Joe and Naomi sold the cattle which allowed more freedom to travel, visit, and participate in their children’s and (especially!) grandchildren’s lives. They made several cross-country trips together over their 65 1⁄2 years and are now reunited.

After Naomi’s death, Joe continued to travel and explore. He was enthralled by the writing of Tony Hillerman and took a long driving tour of Navajo country with Steve and later toured Japan with Steve and his wife, Patrice. He enjoyed his trip back to Japan, seeing some of the places he had seen while serving there in the Marines. His only regret was that Naomi was not there to share it with him.

Joe is survived by his children Steve Turpin and wife Patrice Goodkind of Los Alamos, New Mexico, and her children Sara Goodkind and husband Jeff Shook and children Maya and Zack of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Jessica Goodkind and wife Shannon McKinney and children Bridget, Calvin, and Patrick of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Steve’s step-daughter Anne Kalfas and wife Leta Kalfas and children Jaxson and Apollo of Denver, Colorado; Nedra Ann McGee and husband Raymond of Amarillo, Texas and their children Rayanne of Amarillo, Texas, Katherine of Fort Worth, Texas and Joseph and wife Natalie with their son Carson of Hudson Oaks, Texas; and Mary Jo Stein and husband Mark of Argyle, Texas and their children Michael and wife Katy of Fort Worth, Texas, William and wife Brooke of Fort Worth, Texas and Margaret of Addison, Texas. Joe is also survived by nephews, David Turpin and wife Anita of Austin, Texas, James Turpin of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Mark Turpin and wife Carol of Midland, Michigan as well as a sister-in-law Becky Hersom and husband Danny of Amarillo, Texas, and many relatives and friends across the nation.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Naomi, his parents Lucy and William, and brothers Robert and Owen.

The family suggests memorials to First Christian Church, Amarillo, 3001 Wolflin Ave, Amarillo, TX, 79109; BSA Hospice of the Southwest, 5211 SW 9^th Suite 100, Amarillo, TX, 79106; or a charity of your choice.